posted 19. December 200607:55 PM
Earlier today they had a winter storm warning posted for this area. This afternoon it was changed to a blizzard warning with snow and wind with gusts up to 45 mph. In a way I want to see a blizzard because we need the moisture, but I don't want to have to try to get around in the resulting mess.

posted 19. December 200609:07 PM
You guys are so great. I really was posting in a more "OMG!" mode than soliciting sympathy, but you guys are wonderful.

I have another friend whose daughter has been in critical need of a new liver for over a year now. This little girl was sick the day she was born almost 14 years ago, and had a partial liver transplant from her father before she was 1. She finally got a donated liver this morning, but it was too big. This is the second time. So she had surgery this morning, something her frail body can hardly tolerate, for nothing.

My day just makes me feel so thankful for all of my own blessings, large and small, but at the same time I feel completely powerless and impotent.

--------------------"The little local company I buy from has CHEAP shipping and I have met their goats." (snapdragonfly)

posted 19. December 200609:50 PM
Tonight I took my dog to the mall to have his picture taken with Santa. He behaved amazingly well, especially for a dog whose only experiences with public places are the vet and the dog park. But Gateway didn't pee or cry or act like a spaz. He barked a few times at a Great Dane in front of us, but was otherwise well-behaved and sat or lay at my feet while we waited in line.

The picture didn't come out as well as I'd hoped, because I hadn't wanted his leash to be visible in the photo, but we were sort of rushed through so I didn't have time to pose him the way I wanted.

Also, upon closer inspection of the photo, Santa's eyes are puffy and his face is flushed. Not with Christmas cheer - it looks like he's been doing a bit of boozing.

posted 19. December 200611:51 PM
All I want is quiet. Just an hour with no food smacking, no TV blaring, no inane phone conversations conducted in the middle of the living room, just quiet. I think I could handle the in-law visits with grace if only there were a sliver of the day that provided me some peace.

--------------------This used to be the life, but I don't need another one.MyBandwagonPosts: 3254 | From: small town Texas | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |

posted 20. December 200612:10 AMtag- I can handle crunching if I'm sharing some yummy food. Some foods are impossible to eat quietly. I cannot take crunching all day long, while lips smack and crumbs fall out of mouths.

It's midnight, and FIL is watching America's Funniest Home Videos while crunching pretzels. A man just finished playing the Jeopardy theme using the technique I can only describe as "hand farting."

--------------------This used to be the life, but I don't need another one.MyBandwagonPosts: 3254 | From: small town Texas | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |

The bragging first. For our 7th anniversary, my hubby got us tickets to the Barenaked Ladies concert in Norfolk last Sat. Then drove both ways so I didn't have to deal with anything other than sore feet. Double bonus, one of the opening acts was Sister Hazel, who did an acoustic set that rocked! They were great. BNL rocked my life. I have been a fan for years but have never managed to be in an area that they played. So after all the waiting, we were standing 4 feet (at most) from the stage and they gave a great show. I even ended up with a pick, but sadly not one labeled BNL, (though it is now.) So great much funny fun all around.

On the complaining side, well, it is almost 7 am and I haven't slept yet, just to get some time alone. I've been so busy that I feel that I can't think. And with all the stuff going on, I really need to think. But this is my first chance to have some alone time in 2 weeks. I will be tired tommorow just have some peace and quiet.

Man, I know I need it but with all the fun that has been happening I actually feel really small about whining. (I've got 2 guests, one a night owl, one a early morning person, and I can't sleep anyway, so I've been keeping both company.) The really amusing thing is that my Mom drove here and needed to get around and walk today. We went shopping at the funky shops around here, well now I'm all stiff and hurting after all the standing on Sat and the slow walking today. But we did christmas gifts tonight and I'm really glad that I did what she needed. Ok, so only some bitching, but not really meant. Just sore and fighting the cranky. And really need a nap.

quote:Originally posted by Zabia:The bragging first. For our 7th anniversary, my hubby got us tickets to the Barenaked Ladies concert in Norfolk last Sat. Then drove both ways so I didn't have to deal with anything other than sore feet. Double bonus, one of the opening acts was Sister Hazel, who did an acoustic set that rocked! They were great. BNL rocked my life. I have been a fan for years but have never managed to be in an area that they played. So after all the waiting, we were standing 4 feet (at most) from the stage and they gave a great show. I even ended up with a pick, but sadly not one labeled BNL, (though it is now.) So great much funny fun all around.

Lizzy and I saw BNL when they were here in Columbus. Absolutely fantastic, aren't they? It's so rare to find a band these days that is even better live than they are on CD.

quote:Originally posted by Zabia:The bragging first. For our 7th anniversary, my hubby got us tickets to the Barenaked Ladies concert in Norfolk last Sat. Then drove both ways so I didn't have to deal with anything other than sore feet. Double bonus, one of the opening acts was Sister Hazel, who did an acoustic set that rocked! They were great. BNL rocked my life. I have been a fan for years but have never managed to be in an area that they played. So after all the waiting, we were standing 4 feet (at most) from the stage and they gave a great show. I even ended up with a pick, but sadly not one labeled BNL, (though it is now.) So great much funny fun all around.

Lizzy and I saw BNL when they were here in Columbus. Absolutely fantastic, aren't they? It's so rare to find a band these days that is even better live than they are on CD.

Bowling for Soup is awesome, too. They play to have fun, not "it's a gig and we get paid".

posted 20. December 200610:09 AM
Anybody know where I can find a decent resume template? I've tried the MS ones, and they all come out looking funky.

--------------------"To be or not to be! That is the question! Now, will you answer, dare, double dare, or take the Physical Challenge?" --Mark Summers as HamletCountdown: 177 days and counting... or less. My blog. 14 keyboards owed.Posts: 5584 | From: Ohio | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |

posted 20. December 200610:12 AM
Lemon Drop just gave me a really bad scare. He has taken to sleeping on the shelf in our hall. It has a venetian blind in it. When the kids were little, I would drape the cord up out of reach but got out of that habit.

I just came from the kitchen to let another cat in and looked at Lemon Drop. He was sitting there with his front feet not quite touching the shelf. The string was wrapped around his neck, chest, and both front legs quite tightly. I think the only reason he didn't hang is because the string around his legs and chest kept the pressure off his neck.

posted 20. December 200610:18 AM
I really wish my dad would stop telling people that I'll do things for them before asking me first. He did it when I was in Disney World, he just did it to me recently. Time for a Letter You Wish You Could Send, I guess.

quote:Originally posted by Casey, making hot chocolate: Anybody know where I can find a decent resume template? I've tried the MS ones, and they all come out looking funky.

I have trouble keeping resumes to one page. I have a bunch of scattered relevant experience and sometimes (depending on the position) I'm never sure whether to list my academic awards/scholarships or my volunteer work. I want to show employers that I excel at my work, but it's always difficult for me to decide which is the most relevant information and keep it on one page.

For example, I've not held a paid job since March. But I'm currently a volunteer. Do I list that separately, or list it under work experience along with my previous paid jobs?

posted 20. December 200610:58 AM
I just typed up mailing labels for my Christmas cards (eighty-eight!). I've never resorted to typing before, but I've never been so far behind in getting the cards out before, either.

quote:Originally posted by Casey, making hot chocolate: Anybody know where I can find a decent resume template? I've tried the MS ones, and they all come out looking funky.

I just asked the hubby, he said not to bother with any, they never come out right. But he did offer that if you wanted to see how he did his, pm me.

Oh, and one of the best things about the BNL concert is that hubby enjoyed their music but wasn't a big fan. By the end of the concert, he's as big of a junky as I am. He was amazed that the band was so open to everyone taking turns being loved by the audience. And when they came out for the 2nd encore and everyone took different instruments so the drummer could sing "Fellis Navadas", (sorry to the proper spellers out there), he was doubly hooked.

quote:Originally posted by Zabia:And when they came out for the 2nd encore and everyone took different instruments so the drummer could sing "Fellis Navadas", (sorry to the proper spellers out there), he was doubly hooked.

They did this mid-show when we saw them - and then it was "Feliz Halloween" (instead of "Feliz Navidad"). It was hysterical.

Mickey: I saw Bowling for Soup do a short set at a halftime show of the MLS All Star Game one year. They were pretty good, but I think they had them mixed more for the TV crowd than those in the stadium. I wouldn't mind seeing them again.

quote:Originally posted by Four Kitties: I just typed up mailing labels for my Christmas cards (eighty-eight!). I've never resorted to typing before, but I've never been so far behind in getting the cards out before, either.

I'm afraid Emily Post and Miss Manners are going to haunt me.

Four Kitties

They'll have to haunt me, too! I built a file and have printed mailing and return-address labels for the past four years. This year, I got blue snowflake stamps and made the print a matching blue. The return-address label has "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" printed across the bottom under the name and address, with a row of music notes across the top of the greeting and several on both sides. The music notes don't print correctly here, so I can't show you. I made the music notes the same green that is on the stamps, too. Both sets of labels have tiny blue snowflakes on them. The labels are clear, and the envelopes were white this year, and they looked nice. Last year I had beige envelopes, so I used brown print for the labels and a pen with brown ink for the inside. One year I did red and green. I, too, have a gazillion cards (actually, 90+) to send, and it's either that or stop sending them because my hand hurts after I write a while. I do, however, write a note in the cards and sign them. I can only do about 15 a day, 20 if I push it, so it takes a while. Printed labels help quite a lot, so I don't worry about it. I've even considered printing directly to the envelopes, but I'm not sure my printer would feed them through.

3 snowflakes name 3 snowflakesstreet addressCity, State, zip

row of music notes3 notes Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 3 notes

The shades of blue and green aren't the same, but you get the picture.

Merry Christmas to you!(And to all others who aren't insulted by that sentiment.)

posted 20. December 200611:55 AM
Yay! I just found out that the gas company will be out on Friday to dig the new gas line, and my new gas furnace will be installed next Wednesday! Goodbye noisy, shaky, stinky, inefficient furnace. I can't freakin' wait. (does little happy dance)

Of course, I won't have any money for the next few years. But it's better than feeling like the furnace is going to explode when it comes on.

For reference, I installed a new furnace in 2003. Prior to that, the gas company was going to raise my budget amount from $95 to $140 a month -- a 50% increase! Three years later, with gas prices considerably higher, my budget amount is $95. And my old furnace was "only" 25 years old.

posted 20. December 200612:17 PM
I saw Bowling for Soup do a free concert at the OK State fair in September.

They became my new favorite band that night. They're good on their cds, but in person, they're fantastic. It was kind of like they were just your buddies, who also happen to be groovy rock stars, hanging out with you and some other people. Anyone who likes them at all should totally go to one of their shows.

posted 20. December 200601:11 PM
I think my favorite part of the BFS concert I went to was when they said "Okay, we know there are moms and a lot of kids in the audience, so we promise not to say NFBSK anymore."

Then, a little bit later, Jaret was talking about how his mom had a little sign above the toilet that said "If you sprinkle when you tinkle please be neat and wipe the seat" and Erik said "My mom just wrote 'Clean your NFBSKing piss up'" (or something like that). The rest of the exchange:Jaret: We said we wouldn't say NFBSK anymore!Erik: But I said NFBSK in context! If it's in context, isn't it okay to say NFBSK?Jaret: Yeah, I guess that if it's in context, then saying NFBSK is cool.

posted 20. December 200601:56 PM
Lainie, try this one. I've not tried it myself but I've tried other Splenda recipes from their website & they've all been good.

--------------------I cannot live without books-Thomas Jefferson *~* A child educated only at school is an uneducated child - George Santayana I'm going to pummel you with such zeal, Buddha will explode! *~* Never miss a good chance to shut up - Will RogersPosts: 6585 | From: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |

posted 20. December 200601:57 PM
Tomorrow is the last day of school before "Winter break".

My son knows he's getting a kama set with a carrying case for his "big" gift. Thing is, he doesn't know we already received it in the mail. And he "overheard" me telling his dad, "I don't think we're getting the kama set in time for the holiday." and dad played along: "Dammit... well, he already knows he's getting them, so we'll just tell him later or something."

Ahh, we're so mean... and kind of sneaky.

--------------------"Is it ME? Am I a MAGNET for these idiots?"~Pearl Forrester MST3KDie-Hard Engineers, Big Red One my Dad's website"Must be a 'snopes' thing..." ~my entire family when I try to explain something.Posts: 4524 | From: South of Madison, Wisconsin | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |

posted 20. December 200602:22 PM
Okay, cards are done. I signed each one for each of us, but I only wrote in a few -- no time! And I almost ran out of cards; I'd bought 80. I also used all the leftovers from CatNip's cards that he gave out at work, plus I rummaged an old single out of the stationery drawer.

Then it was off to the Post Office for the second time today. Things have improved slightly over this morning, when I had to wait in line for almost 40 minutes -- this time I only had to wait 25.

For information, it costs 84 cents to send a Christmas card to Barbados, and 63 cents to send one to Canada.